You can find a lawyer by getting referrals from Bar Associations, community agencies, friends, employers, religious advisers, and other people you trust.There are different ways to pay for legal services, so when you first meet with a lawyer, you should talk about their fees, and put any fee agreement in writing.

You may be able to hire an attorney for a "limited scope"or"unbundled"service. This means that the attorney will work on a specific task for you, and you do not have to hire her for the entire case. You only pay a fee for that specific task. For example, the attorney could review your court papers, go to court with you, or give you her expert opinion about your legal rights and options.

Depending on the type of case, you may be able to hire an attorney on a "contingency fee" basis. This means that the attorney will represent you in the case, but you do not pay a fee for the legal services. Usually, the lawyer only gets paid if you succeed in your case and the payment comes from money awarded to you in the case.

People with low income may qualify for free or low-cost legal services. See LawHelpMN.org to find legal aid offices and other legal services programs in Minnesota.

Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN)VLN offers legal help to people with low incomes in civil cases, such as housing, bankruptcy, family law, expungement, and debt collection. To find out if you qualify, complete a Client Intake by phone or online.Phone: (612)752-6677Hours: 9:00a - 1:00p Mon., Wed., & Thur.Online:Client Intake Form

For legal professionals who want to do volunteer legal work for low-income people.

Legal Resources at the Hennepin County Government Center

The Hennepin County Law Library located on floor C-24 of the Government Center is a great resource for people needing to handle a legal matter. It has a full collection of legal resources as well as a special collection of self-help materials. You can ask a Law Librarian for help with legal research via email.